New Travel Guide Features Japan’s Most Beautiful Inns and Hot Springs

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Coupling a minimalist aesthetic with a focus on achieving zen, Japan is renowned for its distinctive design style. On top of its beautiful landscaped gardens and tranquil tea houses, this exquisite approach can be found in its traditional spas, as outlined in JapaneseInns and Hot Springs, a new Japan travel guide by Tokyo-based author Rob Goss.

Known as ryokan, these historic Japanese inns have attracted travelers for centuries. Unlike modern hotels, ryokan have remarkably retained elements of traditional Japanese interior design, including tatami reed floors and shōji, or sliding doors. Many ryokan are within close proximity to onsens (hot springs) which provide warm water for the ofuro, orcommunal bathing areas.

JapaneseInns and Hot Springs takes readers on a trip around Japan, stopping at 40 of the country’s best ryokan. Aiming to make your stay as pleasurable as possible, the book offers tips on travel, easy-to-follow advice on booking a stay, and a helpful etiquette guide geared toward English speakers. When paired with Akihiko Seki‘s beautiful photographs, this indispensable information makes trip-planning a breeze.